January, 2014

On Sunday FCC Angkor will be one of many venues in Siem Reap hosting artists for OurCityFestival 2014. Consider coming out and exploring your artistic self on the serene property of FCC. Presenters, performers, artists, and all information will be available in both English and Khmer.

This video installation Mon Boulet (2011) follows the journey of artist, Svay Sareth who pulled an 80 kilo metal sphere 320 kilometres from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh for six days in 2011 as an examination of human endurance and the absurdity of victory. Symbolizing Cambodia’s complicated history, the sphere also echoes the Greek mythological King Sisphus who had to roll a huge boulder up a hill to only watch it roll back down again, and continuously repeat his actions as a punishment. The artist thinks of the sphere like a mirror of the past and asks whether it also reflects the future.

This photo essay examines various locations in Siem Reap and analyzes their level of accessibility for residents with disabilities. This work was created by six members of the Jesuit Centre with varying levels of mobility.

The children and electrician apprentices at Grace House Community Centre explore the effects of Siem Reap’s growth on rural life just 4 kilometers outside the city. This installation focuses on the lives of families in the rural villages who struggle to pay for intermittent electricity supply, most who only have access to a light, TV and fan.

A short film featuring timelapse sequences of Siem Reap landmarks and daily scenes. The timelapse technique allows us to see small changes that occur over time and serve as a testimonial of the rapid urbanization of the city.

The 9th Annual FCC Nations Cup has officially opened for registration. The event is scheduled for 22-23 Mar., 2014 at Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap, and registration runs until the day of the event! Consider partaking in this breathtaking experience.

Call Mr. Sean Vanthan at +855-96-888-5598 if you would like to register or have questions!﻿

Our Chinese Set Menu is available today and we’re ready to share the juicy details. Come by either FCC location for lunch or dinner and enjoy char siu (Cantonese roast pork) with micro fried rice and bok choy, stir-fried river lobster with ginger and scallions and Asian vegetables, and pandan and ginger panna cotta. In true Chinese New Year fashion, we are bringing you mouth-watering dishes that will leave you full and happy.

Taste the legendary beer of the month! February 2014’s beer is Tsingtao, a lager from China. Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a 600ml bottle for only $3.95. This beer is available at both FCC Phnom Penh and FCC Angkor, ready to be enjoyed whether you’re in one of our restaurants, the comfort of your room, or by the pool.

Dear visitors and residents of Cambodia! Chinese New Year is around the corner and we have a special set menu at both our Phnom Penh and Siem Reap restaurants! The menu will be available starting this Friday, 31 Jan. On Friday only the Chinese set menu will be available. Following, the Chinese set menu and the full FCC menu will be available for lunch and dinner. We look forward to seeing you celebrate the Year of the Horse with us!

When new visitors first arrive to Phnom Penh’s Riverside, there’s a lot to take in. From street cart vendors slowly stalking the Quay to moto dups and tuk tuks calling from each and every direction, the city’s best walking area can often be overwhelming. Tucked away just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of the vibrant urban life, and FCC Phnom Penh, is a true favorite for tourists and locals alike: the National Museum.

Getting There

The National Museum is easy to get to from the general Riverside area, near the Royal Palace, or Wat Phnom. The main entrance is located just right at the corner of streets 178 and 13, adjacent to the Royal University of Fine Arts. Look for the maroon and brown walls and the temple-like structure peering out through the foliage. If you’re on a bicycle or moto, you’ll be happy to know there is free (or cheap) parking behind the building—but you have to go through the main entrance to get there.

Affordable and Effortless

The National Museum is one of the least discombobulating tourist attractions in the city, and the country as a whole. While the temples and markets may feel a bit aggressive, entering and engaging with the National Museum often feels like a great weight is taken from your shoulder. Stepping through the gate sets aside the noise and the crowds, envelopes you in peace. And at under $5 per person, the entrance fee is hard to beat for all the sanctuary of art, history, and quiet being offered.

Delving into History

Cambodia’s history can be seen from any of its corners, but the National Museum offers a unique and meditative experience through powerful curation. Much of the presence of the art and architecture comes through the collection’s diversity. As its website shows, the National Museum has over 1,000 items in its collection. From huge Buddhas, Vishnus, and Shivas, to cryptic and poetic inscription fragments, intimidating weaponry, and elegant vases, the museum carries a remarkably thorough vision of Cambodia’s art, from the pre-history to the post-Angkor periods.

Understand, Relax, Contemplate

As you find your way through the fourteen galleries that make up the museum, you will come across many opportunities to meditate on the life of the Khmer and other Cambodian peoples. The Museum central courtyard includes plenty of great benches. If a monk or other visitor hasn’t beaten you to it, consider stopping by one of two pools to pleasantly feed the fish and enjoy the landscape design. You might find it hard set this cultural gem aside.

Other Key Information

While the National Museum might not be swarming with tourists, for some it’s best to visit in the morning before the day gets too hot. On the other hand, some might find the respite from the heat welcome as they tour the walls, so consider it an afternoon retreat as well. The museum is open from 8-5pm every day, but the last tickets are sold at 4:30pm. There are guided tours available in Khmer, English, French, and Japanese, and there are bathrooms located on-site. If you have any more specific questions about Cambodia’s National Museum, you can email museum_cam@camnet.com.kh.

An Event like No Other

The FCC is pleased to announce it will be opening up the historical Phnom Penh Mansion as one of the primary venues for the upcoming OurCityFestival (OCF) later this month. The bi-annual festival, which will be taking place in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang, runs from January 14th through January 27th.

During the festival’s 10 days, OCF will bring together diverse artists and creators throughout Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Siem Reap. The festival, open to the public and free for all, is a platform for hundreds of performances, activities, and exhibitions between the three cities.

Setting the Stage at the Mansion

While the venues in each city are many, the home base for OCF Phnom Penh will be at the FCC Mansion, located just behind the FCC Phnom Penh Hotel at #3 Sothearos Boulevard. With unique architecture, a great location, and an open-air front garden, the Mansion is the perfect space to host OCF’s bands, film screenings, dance performance, and more.

The Mansion was built between 1910 and 1920 by a Cambodian trader. It has served many functions since, including private residence, military possession, government property, and now, under FCC ownership, music and arts venue. Miraculously, the Mansion has held up for the 100 years and is in remarkable shape. Those who step inside are bound to ask the question: what has gone on in these walls and what is to come?

The FCC will feature some of its best dining at the Mansion each day of the festival. Mornings will feature a Coffee Break menu, and each night, the Mansion will feature a cash bar with drinks and kebabs. The entire festival is free admissions and daytime activities are for all ages.

Interviewing Dana Langlois, OCF Director

OCF founder and director Dana Langlois sat down with FCC to talk about the festival and her inspiration for using the Mansion.

FCC: What is your history with the Mansion and your inspiration for having the Mansion being a central venue during the 2014 OCF?

Dana: In 2011, I worked with one artist and did a video installation at the Mansion for that year’s OurCityFestival, but we didn’t implement a full exhibition and performance program like this year. It’s a very interesting space, and I look forward to seeing the contrast of history with contemporary art. The building itself is an icon but it’s somewhat of an enigma–there’s little information on the building and it’s interesting wondering what and who the building was originally used for. With the unique architecture meeting all of the art, it’s a great space to get people to come and have a new, different experience with art and architecture.

FCC: How do you see the space being used by the OCF artists?

Dana: In the case of the works and the exhibitions at the Mansion, close to half are responding to the space itself. In the case of the opening night (January 17th), there are two performances, including a dance by Pandaemonium Dance, which will be about movement within the space itself. It will be movement that’s in harmony and contrast with the space.

We will also have an installation by Som Vannitathat is related to the cultural heritage of the building. The types of art that will be installed and shown and performed at the Mansion are more indicative about what the festival’s about. It’s about how the arts and the project reflect the city, the communities, the individuals, the art, and the heritage. We’re presenting art in projects that is relevant to the space in the city. In that way the space is very important to the works themselves and how they are experiences for the audience.

FCC: How accessible will the Mansion be during each of the days of the festival, and how do you see the space being used?

Dana: Thanks to the FCC we’ll have the space open all 10 days of the festival from 10AM to 10PM. In addition to the art exhibitions, we have activities every single night. We’ll turn the Mansion into a festival lounge between 6 and 10 every night, with a bar and activities. Featured evening activities include live music, and an outdoor cinema by the Bophana Audio-Visual Resource Center. It will be the outdoor cinema. It’s meant to be a dynamic space that’s exciting and for the public to go to and experience art, film, music, and performances.

Attention music lovers in Phnom Penh: FCC is excited to be hosting the eclectic Jahzad this Saturday, 11 January, at the Mansion! Mixing the danceable rhythms of Jamaican Ska with popular jazz, Jahzad brings together some of the city’s best musicians.

Doors open at 8:30PM and the party goes late. With free admission and a cash bar serving drinks and kebabs, it’s going to be a fun evening at the Mansion, located just behind FCC Phnom Penh at 32 Sothearos Blvd. Stop by, put on your dancing shoes, and sway to cool rhythms underneath a clear sky. For surprises and updates, be sure to check out the Facebook event page.

Latest Offers

Happy Chinese New Year! For the entire month of February, FCC will be offering a delicious Chinese full-course set menu. Don’t be fooled – these dishes are meticulously prepared by our brand new chefs, who are adamant on serving you a gastronomical experience you will never forget! Starter SurSur slaw salad With salted apricot dressing […]

FCC’s Legendary Beer of the month for February: Tsingtao Premium from China! In honor of Chinese New Year, stop in & try this fine Chinese brew, with a sparkling fizz, today! Only $3.50 per 296ml bottle. It’s available now at both FCC Angkor and FCC Phnom Penh.